Closing machine



Feb. 5, 1946'. w. D. JORDANETALV 2,393,988

CLOSING MACHINE Feb. 5, 1946 w. D. IJORDAN -ETAL cLosiNG MACHINEFiledmaan. 9, 1 942 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 CLOSING MACHINE 4 sheets-sheet smieu Jan. V9, 1942 A Traer/EWS y Feb. 5, 1946.`

w.. D. JRDAN ETAL CLOS ING MACHINE Filed Jan. 9, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 4ulm Patented Feb. 5, 1946 UNITED .sTATEs PATENT oFF-iceLndgren,.-McHenry,.Ill., assignors 'Sto American Can- Company, ...NewYork,"N. 'Y.,-'a corporation .Application AJanuary i9, 1942, vScrialaNo..426,230

`;()1a'inrxsn (Cl. 226-8231) The instant yinvention 'relates tocontain-er or can closing machines and has @particular reference tofirst Llocating a vcan `to be vclosed 'on Ya lifter device and` thenshiftingthe `can1 into closing position.

' In'thefpackingofl wholehams and thelike" into cans, thevusualfprocedure isitoiprovi'de cans Aof different-heightsA and tochoosev the i height of Vcan required foreach ind-ividualh-am sothat'the can Will t fthe ham. The cans vary in'heights `in increments ofone-eighth lof-an-inch overa range of probably `4one-inch. Suchaya-riety'of 'cans thus creates some difculty inclosing Av-them'in thesame-machine, especially when `the 'cans are of noncircula-r orirregular configuration in horizontal cross section.

The instant invention contemplates l'overcoming thisldiiculty-'byproviding a-semi-automatic machine having amultiple station turret withmdividually'adjustafble lifter devices for bringing the can and itscover to a predetermined level before entering a Vsingle closingstation, the lifter devices being engageable at the closing station withmechanism 'for lifting the can 'into #closing position.

An object therefore'of lthe inventionis 'tha-pro 1 visionfof amultiplestation Acan closing machine wherein cans of different -sizesmay '-be received and .located-in respect to "their heights on lifterdevices .which A:are individually engageable fwith actuating` mechanism2 located Vat a single closing station. for shifting the :located :cans'into closing position.

Anotherk object is th'eprovision of such armachine wherein 'cans 'ofirregular Across-:section may be properly located and retained l'againstdisplacement `while :being Ibrought intoposition for closing.

Numerous other objects andvadvantages of the invention will beapparentlas lit'is better understood from the following description; which;taken in connection with .the accompanying` drawings, disclosesafpreferred em'bo'dimentf'thereo'f.

.Referring to the drawings:

.Figure l-is'a vertical sectional view'of a-can closing machineembodying the instant invention, with parts brokenaway;

Fig. 2 is :1a .vertical `sectional v.detail cfa lvalve unit usedzin .themachine, withspartsfbroken faway;

Figs. 3, 4 and .5/are horizontal sections `taken substantially along 1'the ylines 3-"3, -44 and 5-"5 in Fig. 1, .with parts .broken :av/ay,Fig. 'being drawn at an enlarged scale;

Fig. 6 isianaenlargedhorizontaisectional'detailtakensubstantiallyfalongithe horizontal lines-46 in Fig. 1, withpartsvbrokenfaway, the :.vewibeing revolved through @ninety` degrees.and illustrating in dot .fand dash .lines a different .positionfof amovable .part of the machine;

Fig. 7 .is an l.enlarged Yfragmentary si-de :elevationi of thefmachineas viewed. from .theiright in Figi pand Fig..-.8 isa-.transversever-ticalsection takenzsubstantiallyalong the line 8-8-in.Fig..l3,withparts brokensaway.

-..Asa1preferred.embodiment of the .invention the drawings illustrateaivacuum can closing machine for sealing covers A (Figs. l-.and 3) ontolled sheet metal .cans B :of irregular configuration after. the canshave been vacuumized.

.Insucha machine ytheclosing of a can Bis effected. preferably .in .theusual manner .by a continuously yrotating.seaming.head ll (Fig. `1)havingdepending seaming rollers .I2 and a chuck L3. v-Theiheadisvlocated in an open bottom seaming. chambenlliseealso Fig. 3)enclosedby walls of raframe.l5 which latter constitutes the main frameof'jthe machine. The headis mounted on.a spindle within a sleeve .116journaled in a pair of spaced 'bearings 'l1 formed Ain the .machineframe.

'The seaminghea'd I"'| isrotated'by means of Ia. pair :of 'differentialspur gears 2l, `22 which are mounted .on the spindle and .on the. sleevel'6,.re spectively. '.Thesejgears 'are driven bymeshing differential:gears 123; "24'mounted on a vertical gear shaft 25 y,journaled vinspaced bearings S26, formed in the machine frame. The gear shaft isdrivenbyfa'beltZl'which operates over a driven pul1ey"28mountedionthe-upper end of thegear shaft; and overa driving-pulley mounted Von. arotorsha-ft I131 of an nelectric motor 132 secured to theAimachineframe. VThe-motor is'the main sourceo'f power for 4operatingthe machine and this 'motor may be -actuated "from "any suitablesource-of electric energy.

The covers' "A'to be sealed to the cans IB are inserted manuallyinto'a'retaining Aring M (Figs. lfan'd 13) v'locatedin arotatable'turret or-carr'ier 42. There are'l'f'ourofthese-ringsfandtheyare spaced yequally apart adjacent the outer edge 'ofthe'rturret. Each rings-:formed wit-ha ledge 43 The turret 42 isdisposed in a horizontal posi- Vtion just below the closing head H sothat a Y portion oi the turret v'sealing chamber walls and thusclosesoff the engages the bottom of the chamber IG'. This turret isbolted toa long Vdepending hollow hub 41 which carries ball bearings 48mounted on a stationary as a part of the machine frame.

Below each cover retaining ring 4| and in ver-A tical alignmenttherewith is a lifter pad 52 (Figs. l, 6 and 8) for supporting a can Bto be closed. This lifter pad is formed on a verticaldepending stem 53which is carried in a sleeveY 54. The sleeveis carried in a long bearing55 formed on a, hollow arm 56 which extends out from the turret hub 41.There are four of these arms, each carrying a lifter unit for eachretaining rings 4| in the turret 42. l

Each lifter sleeve 54 extends downbelow its bearing 55and is formed atits Vbottom with a post 4,9 formed groove or notch 58 which sets off vahook 59. At-

its upper end, leach sleeve is formed with a ange 6| which engagesagainst the top of the bearing 55andv serves asa stop fory holding thesleeve in thebearing. The sleeve flange merges into adish shapedbracket63 which extends Vup around the lifter pad 52 and terminates in a flathorizontal table 64 which is disposed substantially flush with the topof the lifter pad. There is one of these tables for each sleeve 55. e

' Each sleeve table 64 carriesa pair of can half molds, i. e.,astationary mold 66 and a movable mold |51.y The stationary mold issecured to the top ofthe table 54 while the movable mold is hingedlycarried on a pintle 68 secured in hinge lugs 69 formed on both molds.The hinged mold may be swung lopen into the position shown in dot anddash lines in Fig. 6 and in this position a can B- is inserted into thestationary mold. This insertion of the can and its cover is donemanually atL the loading station hereinbefore mentioned.

. Y The upper edges of the molds 66, 61 are formedV with inwardlyprojecting flanges 12' which ,are

shaped to surround the irregular shaped can body when the molds areclosed and thus hold Vthe can in a predetermined position which isdirectly Vbelow and in vertical alignmentwiththe cover A Yin 'the coverretaining ring 4|.

The inner edge of these holding flanges are grooved and carry aresilient cushion 13,'made preferably of rubber,v

totightly grip the can B to hold it in place.

, When the molds are closed they may be locked in: this position by alocking handle which is' carried -on aV pivot pin 16 secured in a lugV11 fora'fr'ied onvthe stationary mold 66. This handle is formed with alocking lug 18 which isV engage'- able over a pin 19 in a lug 8| on thehinged mold 61, as best shown in Fig. 6. Y

` A can B thus supported on the lifter pad v52 inV a predeterminedposition and locked within the'` molds 66, '461, is raised-verticallybythe operator L of the machine. f This upward movement brings the vtopof the can Vinto engagement with an indexing or locating plate 85 (seeFigs. 3 and 8).

This indexing plate is secured tov the bottom of the ring bracket 40 andcovers a space extending of the cover The operation follows vatthe'iclosing station as will beV hereinafter explained. e k Raising ofthe can intoengagement with the indexing or locating plate 85 iseffected by a lever 86 (Figs. 1 and '1) mounted on a pivot pin 81 seicured in the lever. YThe rocker head is formed frame and carries a triphandle |35* Y Y Thus when it is desired to rotateithe turret 42 from theloading station to the sealing chamber.

The 4plate locates the Vtop edge of all cans re-` gardless of theirindividual heights, in a predetermined position for thei sealingoperation, Such with a depending actuating handle 98 and a locking pawlv95.l The pawl engagesv Vwith ratchet teeth ll'formed on the outer edgeof the ratchet plate 68 and is held against' the teeth by a compressionspring I2 interposed between the rocker head and the top edge of thelever.

Hence by gripping the handle98 and pressing it e inwardly, the operatorof -the machine may Withdraw the locking pawl 99 from the ratchet teeth|'0I and thus shift the lever 8B in the proper direction to raise orlower the lifter pad 52. When a can B on the lifter pad has been-locatedagainst the locating plate 85, the operator releases the Vhandle 98 andYthis permits the spring I D2 to Rotation of the turret is effected byva pair ofV meshing intermittent gears III, ||2, (Figs. .1 and 3). GearH is formed on the :bottom of the turret 42., The gear H2 constitutes adriving gear and is xedly mounted on a vertical actuating shaft H3carried inV bearings H4 formed in the machine frame.

'I'he actuating shaft H3 is rotated through a single revolution clutchwhich'includes'rfaclutch gear H6 (Figs. 1 and 5). This'gear is loose onthe actuating shaft'l I3 and meshes with a pinion ll1formedjon thediferential'gear 'shaft25. Thus the clutch gear is rotated continuouslyin time with the seaming head H. The clutch gear is formed with a 'hub II8 having a notch H9 in its inside surface. lThis hub extends up arounda collar |25 which is keyed to the actuating' shaft H3. The-collarcarriesa pawl |26 backed up by a spring barrel |21 located in a bore'|28 formed in the collar. i y

.The pawl |26jnormally is held in a` recess |29 located in the collar,by a, trip arm 32 which4 engages against Vtheside .of the pawl.' Thetrip arm is mounted on a shaft|33 carriedV in bearings Y |34 formed inthe machine frame' adjacent the clutch gear. VThe shaft extendsexterioi'ly of 'the it is merely necessary topress 'down on'V the triphandle |35. This action lifts the inner end of thejtrip arm |32 out ofengagement with the pawl |26 and thus permits the spring barrel |21v topress .the pawl outwardly against the insideV surface of the clutch hubH8.

' When thenotch H9 in therotating lfiubrnoves fad-jacent' the Ipawl',-the latter .snaps into Jthevr thus lift the tablenotchan`d1thusflocksthe ,collar :IiZand theclutch hub H18.' together..The clutch gear is: temthe Araised trip arm |32 and thusy depresses vitinto a position where its inner end is in thepath of travel of theclutch pawl |26. `i

Hence as the rotation clutch gear H8 brings the pawl into engagementwith thel trip arm, the latter forces the pawl inwardly ,1i-nto itsrecess |29 in the collar |125 and thus releases the pawl from itsdriving notch ||f8 linv the gear hub. It is this release thatldisconnects the continuously rotating clutch gear IIb` from theactuating shaft and thus brings the latter to` rest.

Duri-ng the rotation of the actuating shaft |13, the lifter sleeve- 54*is raised to lift the can and its cover up into engagement the closinghead II Vlocatedvat the closing station. 'This is effected by a lifterlever |45 (Figs. 1 and 4) which is located near the bottom of the manchine. The arm is mounted on a `pivot pin |46 which is threaded intoaboss I-41 on the machine frame.V The outer end of the arm carries a camroller which operates in a camV groove |48 of a barrel cam |49 mountedon the actuating shaft I I3. i

rThe vinner end of the lifter arm |45 is formed with a pair lof forkarms |53 which are connected to links |54 mounted on pivot pins |55secured in a collar |56 on a reduced shouldered portion |51 of a lifteractuating rod |58. The rod is disposed in a vertical position at theclosing station and is slidably located in a long bearing |59l formed inthe machine frame. A compression spring |62 interposed between the rodand the collar |56 thereon, providesffor ayieldab-le connection betweenthe rod and its actuating lever |45. The upper end of the rod is formedwith a notch |64 and a hook |65 which are complementary to the slotsor'notches 58 and hooks 59 of the lifter sleeves 54.

When the turret rotates to shift a can and its cover from the loadingstation to the closing station, the lifter sleeve 54 at the loadingstation shifts with the turret toward the lifter actuating rod |58 andthe slot 5a and hook 58 mesh `with or engage with the notch |64 and hook|165 of theactuating rod. Before the actuating shaft I I3 comesV torest, the cam |49 and actuating lever |45 raise the lifter actuating rod|58 and 64, molds 66, 61, lifter pad 52 and can B, as a unit. Duringthis lifting action the molds move up into the clearance space 44 orturret pocket and into engagement with the inner vwall f the latter(Fig. 1), below the cover retaining ring 4| in the turret 42 `and thusblock off the outside atmosphere, thus constituting a substantiallyhermetic nt with the ring.

The cycle of operation of the machine is such that the one revolutionclutch stops the actuating shaft II3 and the `lifter cam |49 carriedthereon, justas the rising can B engages the cover A located in thecorresponding retaining ring 4|. The can and the ycover come to rest atthe closing station and in vertical alignment with the closing head I-I,as best shown in Fig. l. 'The 4cam `|49 begin to rotate.

-pushes thev valve upwardly.

turret. 42:*a11so comes to.l rest. lockedagainst. movementv by thelocking section of" the drifting gear I|2 (Fig. 3).

While the turret 42' and the4 can B are thus. at

rest, the sealingv chamber It4 @with its .bottomv blocked off' by themolds; 6.6, '61?) andthe can arevacuumizedr ltov remove the air from fthe; can.

Vacuumizing of the sealing chamber .is brought: about by way of a pipeIL1t (Figs. 1 and 25:, whichV leads from any. suitable source. ofvacuumf The. machine end' of the pipe is threaded into. a hori' zontalbore I'12 of a valve .block- If13- formed: on` 1a wall of thesealing-chamber; The'bore |112lea-rds:V

into the chamber. Y

The. valve block |13 carries a vertical slide valve' |114 disposed `in abore. |115` that extends across and normally closes off the horizontalbore |12. kIntermediate its ends the slide/'valve is relieved to form aspace between the valve and the valve block surrounding thefvallve. The'ends of the valve extend beyond' the .valve block where they areAengageabl'e with apair .of spaced cams |18, |19 formed on a hub Il81I.This `hub isl' mounted .on and rotateswith the actuating shaft II-3',and isY located between the two intermediate bearings I`I4.

Thus just before the actuating shaft H3 comes..

to restl at the completion of al cycle, the upper cam |18 engages theadjacent end of" the slide valve |142 and forces i-tdown in its bore|15. This movement off the slide valve closes off Van atmos phere port|82 in the slide blockl and'simultaneously opens the vacuum bore |1122,as. best. shown'.

in Fig. 2. This opening of the vacuum bore L12 brings the. sealingchamber |41 intotcommunication with the source of vacuum to exhaust theair from the can as hereinbefore mentioned.

This vacuum is drawn on the sealingchambe-rand 'can for as long astheturret 42 remains fat: rest. During this time the operator ofthe maf`chiney removes a sealed can from the molds: now

at the loading station and inserts a new unsealed can and a. cover. Thisis done manually. The.

one or single revolution clutch then isv tripped manually by operationof the clutch handle |135, as hereinbefore mentioned.' Tripping of theclutch starts themachine cycle, as now will Ybe explained.

As soon as the clutch is tripped, the actuatingshaft II3 with theintermittent gear III and the The turret.4;2 isthus moved substantiallyto .and temporarily re mains at rest at the closing position directlyibeneath the seaming head II (Figs. l and 3).

While the turret isat rest in this immediately subsequent position, thecam |48 raises the lifterV unit engaged with the lifter rod I 5'8. Thismoves the can up through the cover retaining `ring 4| and picks up thecover from the ring, As the can and cover continue to moveup'with'theflifter unit, the cover comes into engagement lwith theseaming head chuck I3 and the seaming of the cover onto the can takesplace by the operationV of the. seaming rollers I2.

After the can is sealed, it isv moved down to its original positionthrough the cover retaining ring, by the lowering of thelifter unit.Simultaneouslyv with this action the vacuum is brokenl in the sealingchamber I4. 'This is brought about by the lower valve cam |19 on therotating actu# atingshaft I I3. The cam engages the lower endsimultaneously opens the atmosphere ,port |82 to admit air into thechamber. It is thisY air thatV breaks the vacuum. Y

YWhen the lifter unit reaches its/lowermost level, the teeth Von theintermittent driving gearV 2 engage with the teeth on its mating gearand rotate both the gear and the turret 42 through a ninetyrdegreestepped rotation. Thisr movement advances the closed can into thefollowing idle station and brings the unsealed can and cover from theloading Astation into the closing station. This 'rotation of the turretdisengages the lifter sleeve 54 of the lifter unit Vbearing the sealedcan, from the lifter Aactuating rod |58 andA brings the sleeve of thenewly loaded lifter unit into engagement with the actuating., rod. Thegear and turretthen come to vrest at their newly indexed position whilethe actuating shaft I3 and gear I 2 continue to rotate.

A Further rotation of the actuating shaft 3 continues to rotate thelifter cam |49 and this cam then raises the lifter actuating rod |58 andthe newly engaged lifter unit and moves the unsealed can B up intoengagement withits cover A in the cover retaining ring 4|.4 Italsooperates .the slide valve |14 to open again the vacuum bore |12 tore-vacuumize the sealing chamber. At this point in the machine cycle theclutch is disengaged from the actuating shaft 3 and the shaft and theparts connected therewith cease rotation. This completes the machinecycle. Y The following is a brief summary oi the operation of themachine: Y An operator standing at the loading station in advance ofthe's'eaming chamber (Figures 3, 6 and 8) manually inserts a cover Athrough opening 46, and drops it onto ledge 43 of the turret 42; H ealso opens theY half molds 66, 61 and places aV can on the lifter plate52, raises the lifter plate by'actuation of a lever 86 associatedtherewith until the top of the can touches plate 85 (Figure 8) therebylocating or indexing Ythe can top at a height predetermined foreiiicient operation at a 'subsequent station. The half molds are thenclosed and locked andtrip handle |35 (Figure 5) is depressed to set themachine in motion for one cycle during which the turret 42 rotatesthrough 90 degrees bringing the can and its cover above it into verticalalignment with seaming headf Before the turret comes to rest, however,slotv 58 and hook 59 of turret sleeve 54 mesh or engage withcomplementary hook |65 and notch` |64 of rod |58 which, actuated by cam|49 through vlever |45, raises the lifter pad 52 and the can heldthereon.V The can is raised until it reaches the; position shown inFigure 1, assembled with its cover A. Simultaneously, the upperperiphery of the closed molds 66, 61 enters and forms a` substantiallyhermetic seal with the inner surface of its turret pocket 44.

Vacuum slide valve |14 (Figures 1 and 2) .isi automatically opened justbefore the end of the cycle and remains open to eiTect the vacuumiza,v

tion of the can and its contents while the opera'- i Y tor unloads vandloads the next turret ring and molds. Y Y

- When the operator again trips the clutch han# 1 dle |35, the turret 42remains at rest for a short timewhile cam |49 through lever |45 and rod|58 raises the can and assembledcover still higher and into operatingposition with the seaming head When the seaming operation is com'- bycam |49 to itsflowermost position and thev The vclosed cans 'are movedthrough two idle stations (Figure 3) before they reach the operator atthe loading station unless a second operator is placed at one of theidle stations to remove them by opening the half molds 66, 61 (Figure6).

It is thought that the invention vand'many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description, and it willbeapparent that various changes may be made in the form, K

construction and arrangement of the parts without departing ,from thespirit and scope ofthe invention or sacrificing all of vits materialadvantages, the form hereinbeforey describedk being merely a'preferredembodiment thereof. Y

We claim:l f 1. In 'a canclosing machine, the combination of a housingenclosing a chamber and having an opening therein for receivingrcans'tobe closed,A

means for vacuumizing said chamber, a closing head locatedlwithln saidchamber, a turret for sealing the opening in said chamber, said turretbeing rotatable through a plurality of Working stations and havingVspaced pockets alignable with said closing head, a plurality of lifterde-V vices located one adjacent each of said turret' lpockets androtating with the turret for carrying cans to be closed, lifteractuating means .disposed adjacent said chamber and engageablewith eachof said lifter devices as it moves adjacentrsaid actuating means duringrotation of said turret to shift the said lifter device and the cancarried thereon into the closing head for the closingY operation, and apair of half molds mounted on each lifter device and adapted to be movedinto the turret pockets for hermetically sealing the l latter againstentrance of air thereinto and into said chamber and for locating andholding a can in a predetermined position during the closing operation.y

2. In a can closing machine, the combination of a can closing head, aturret disposed adjacent said head and rotatable through a Vplurality ofworking stations, a plurality of lifter devices dis- -posed adjacentsaid .turret and rotating ,therewith for supporting cans to be closed,each of said lifter devices including a vertically movable table, ahollow depending stem formed on each table, a lifter pad for each table,said pads being independently movable relative to said tables, a padVstem formedY on each of said pads and carried in the hollow stems ofsaidy tables, operating means connected with each pad stemY for manuallyshifting theY pad 'vertically tofbring the'upper edge of a'can placed onthe pad into a predetermined elevation above its table, a locking deviceassociated with each Vof said operating means for locking a located canand its lifter pad in said elevated position, and lifter actuating meansdis- Iposed at atsingle station adjacent vsaid closing head andengageable by each of the hollow stems of said tables for furthershiftingreach lifterv device with its lifter pad in the above mentionedlocked position to bring the can carriedthereon Y into engagement with'the closing headV for the can closing operation.

3. In a can closing machine,the combination of a housing hermeticallysealed with the excep- Y pleted, the sealed lcontainer is movedvdownwardly tion of an openingrformed vin the lower portion thereof, a atcontinuous sealing flange on the exterior of said housing surroundingsaid open-- ing,"a seaming head insaid housing adjacent said opening, anintermittently movable carrier having an upper flat sealing surfaceadapted to con-Y tact said'housing iiange inY a substantially her-V'metic sealing engagementfa series of can and cover lassembling :unitsfin said carrier .movable lftheftoploieachcanztoza predetermined levelrelai into '.izeiticalxalignment with said :head 'zand said :holding:mold `having :a :continuousperipheral ilange, .a :cover-holding 'ring.said v.carrier `in vvertical :alignment 4vwith Vl.said .mold, :asealing :pocket formed :in lsaid nunit .adjacent :said aring, saidypocket being adapted to engage the :ilange of said .mold in a.substantially 'hermetic seal,

imean'sf-forimovin'g said fpartsiinto and out of ithe .above 1mentionedhermetic :sealing relations lwith eachother, '.meansiior fcreating;.a zpartial v'vacuum i-nssaid housing and :unit when thus fsealed, randmeans Ifor assembling :a v.can and 'cover rand for actuating "saidseaming rheadzto unite said 'cover thereof, -a filat continuous sealing:Eiiange pn 'the Vvexterior Vof said housing surrounding fsaidVopeniing,':a seaming head 5in' said housingadjacent Isai'd opening, anintermittently rotatable turret :hav-

ingsan upperflat sealing suriacevadapt'edzto conitactssai'd lhousingflange in a :substantially `:her-

metic :sealing vengagement, .fa `series `Aoi" -fcan .and coverassembling ninits iin l:said turretnnovable .into vertical alignmentWith'zsaid :head fand -said comprising '1a :can-q opening, each of saidunits holding "nold "having ra continuous peripheral ilange, .'acover-'.hlding ring in said turret in vertical alignment with said mold,a sealing pocket formed in said unit adjacent said ring, said pocketbeing adapted to engage the iiange of said mold in a substantiallyhermetic seal, means for moving said parts into and out of the abovementioned hermetic sealing relations with each other, means for creatinga partial vacuum in said housing and unit when thus sealed, and meansfor assembling a can and cover and for actuating said seaming head tounite said cover and can in said partially vacuumized housing and unit.

5. In a can closing machine, the combination of a can closing head, aturret disposed adjacent said head, said turret being rotatable througha plurality of working stations, a plurality, of lifter devicesrotatable with said turret for supporting cans of different heights tobe closed, a stop plate disposed adjacent said turret for definitelylocating the upper edges of said different height cans at apredetermined elevation relative to the seaming plane of said closinghead, means carried by each lifter device for partially elevating a caninto engagement with said stop plate to definitely locate th upper edgeof the can irrespective of its height, and lifter device actuating meansadapted to be engaged by said lifter devices for raising the latter asthe same individually move into position adjacent said closing head v tofurther elevate the pre-located cans on said lifter devices into sealingposition in the closing head irrespective of the height of the cans.

6. In a can closing machine, the combination of a can closing head, aturret disposed adjacent said head, said turret being intermittentlyrotatable through a plurality of Working stations and havingcircumferentially spaced pockets for holding can covers in verticallyspaced relation to the cans to be closed, a plurality of lifter devicesdisposed adjacent said pockets on said turret and rotatable with theturret for supporting cans of different heights to be closed, manuallyactuated meanscarried by each lifter device to raise `:tive :to fits:can .cover :irrespective of the height 'of -the can, ylifter ;deviceactuating ,meansv having yremovable interlocking `:engagement ywith saidlifter devices zas :the .latter K.individually ymoveadjacentlsaid.rclosing .head to Aelevate :each lifter 4device andthe :can.carrie'dsthereon t'o :pick yup :the cover and :Lto .movetheassembledicanand .cover',into/thefclosing head Vfor the closingopera-`tion ,.when fsaid` turret fis fiat i-rest, a and actuating imeansinr.-rotating said f-turret :and f or :operating .saidilifter vdeviceactuating .means in timed .relation. i

Inl-:a can '-aclosingmachine, `the combination 'of 'a ltur-ret.rotatable throughla 'loading "station Vand .thence` through Ja closingxstation having ay closin'g headfsaid 'turrethaving circumferentiallyspaced opennendedi pocketsi or .holding can covers .inl verticallyspaced aligned :relation '.to ithe scans 'to be closed, iaplurality oflifter devices :carried by -saidzturret for .supportingesaid cans,meansat said 5 loadingstationff or partially/elevating xa' said Aliiterdevice andvafsupported :cantoward-:its vertically .aligned ac'over,means for limiting Vupvvard :movement of 'sai'd `.partially xelevated:can wat .a ifixeddi'stance below and relative to said .closing head,means onra saidv lifterfdevice movable .into engagement with :said@partially v.eleva-ted :supported can to surround the :sameat saidiloading "station, :lifter device actuating means -disposed adjacentsaid stations :and having means thereon .tor removably #engaging "eachlifter device in :succession as,4 the .latter 1 are ,advanced -irorn.said loading station to further elevate a said lifter device and thecan and its cover into a said turret pocket for a closing operation onthe can, the said further elevation of said can engaging said cansurrounding means .with said turret pocket to seal off the can from theatmosphere during the closing operation, and means for advancing saidcan and its said aligned cover from said loading station tosaid closingstation.

8. In a can closing machine, the combination of a can closing head, aturret disposed adjacent said head and rotatable through a loadingstation and thence through a closing station, said turret havingcircumierentially spaced open ended pockets for holding can covers invertically spaced aligned relation to the cans to be closed, a pluralityof lifter devices carried by said turret for supporting the cans to beclosed, means at said loading station for partially elevating a saidlifter device and a supported can towards its vertically aligned cover,means for limiting upward movement of said partially elevated can ataxed distance below and relative to said closing head, means on a saidlifter device rotatable with said turret and movable into engagementwith said partially elevated supported can to surround the same at saidloading station, lifter device actuating means disposed adjacent saidclosing station beneath the closing head and having means Y thereon forremovably engaging each lifter device loading station to in successionas the latter are advanced from said iurther elevate a saidlifter deviceand the can and cover carried thereon to engage the can and its coverwith said closing head for the closing operation on the can, the saidfurther elevation of said can engaging said can surrounding means withsaid turret pocket to seal off the can from the atmosphere during theclosing operation, and means for advancing said can and its said alignedcover from the loading station to said closing station.

9. In a can closing machine, the combination of a can closingkhead, aturret disposed adjacent said head and rotatable through a loadingstation and thence through a closing station, said `turret havingperipherally spaced open ended can re- `ceiving turret pocketstherein, aplurality of` can lifter devices rotatable withsaid turret forsupporting cans of varying` heights to be closed,

'means carried by said turret ladjacent a said pocket thereof forpartially elevating a can on predetermined elevation below the seamingplane of said'closing head, means on said lifter device Vmovable intoengagement with said partially lele- `vated supported can to surroundsaid can at said loading station, and lifter device actuating meansdisposed adjacent one .of said stations and having means thereon'adaptedto removably engage Yeach j of said lifter devices as the same moveadjacent thereto for raising a said lifter device to further elevate thecanthereon into its said turret pocket andinto sealing position in theseaming vplane of said closing head at said rclosing stationftheYsaid/further elevation of said can engaging said can surrounding meanswith said turret pocket :to seal off the can from the atmosphere duringthe'closing operation;

1G. In a can closing machine, the combination of a can closing head, aturretdisposedadjacent said head and intermittently rotatable throughaloading station and thence through a closing station, said turrethaving "circ'umferentially spaced openended pocketsfor receivingcans tobe closed and for holding can covers in vertically Vspaced alignedrelation to said cans, a plurality of can lifter devices rotatable withsaid turret for supporting cans to be closed, manually vactuated meanscarried by said turret adjacent a said q pocket. thereof for partiallyelevating cans on said lifter devices to raise the open upper end of Aeach can to a predetermined level relative to its said turret pocket,means on a said lifter device movable 'intoV engagement with a supportedcan thereon to seal 01T the lcan in vertically spaced relation to itssaid turret pocket, lifter device actuating means disposed adjacent saidclosing station beneath said closing head andfha'ving means thereon forremovably engaging each of` said lifter devices as the latterv aresuccessively advanced adjacent thereto tov further elevate each lifterdevice andthe can and cover carried' thereon into the closing head forthe closing operation when said turret is atrrest, means for rotatingsaid turret from said loading station to saidclosing station, and meansfor operating said lifter device actuating means in timed relation tothe rotation of said turret, the said further elevation of said canengaging said can surroundi ing means with said turret pocket to seal oithe can Vfrom the atmosphere during the closing t ovoperation.` i

'WARREN D. JORDAN.l HENRY W. LINDGREN--

